Why?

Japan has argued for quiet some time for the hunting of whales, but now Japan increased the size of its which more than doubles the number of whales catched by Japan.
Only one kind of hunting is legal today which is the whaling for scientific purposes, but Japan has build up a great reserve of whale meat. First Japan attempted to sell the meat to schools, this failed. The next attempt was to sell dog food made of the excess whale meat, this was a very successful try and has started a boom for whale dog food.
A Japanese fast food chain is carrying whale burgers as well. Japan seems to be ignorant to the fact that whales do have feelings, that they have a very important role in the ecosystem and that the annihalation of an enitre species will impact onto the ecosystem.